Johnny’s tells Sendai they will not use donations for pandas

Money donated by Johnny’s fans for Tohoku Earthquake relief will not be used to bring pandas to Sendai, reports J-CAST news on March 9.

It has been reported the agency contacted Sendai officials and said they will use their own money for the project, saying that was their first plan.

At first, Johnny’s senior talent Masahiko Kondo had announced on January 27 the Marching J charity money would be used to help bring pandas to Sendai, and more than 5 billion yen would be used to look after the pandas for five years. The news outraged many, and on the internet people argued pandas had nothing to do with relief efforts.

The March 8 issue of Shukan Bunshun/Shincho reports deputy director had said there had been an meeting with Johnny’s & Associates representatives, during which the agency had said they would use their own money to cover the panda costs. They agency had also said they want the money to be used for the children in Tohoku.